Elise to Exige

[sng45]

I have a chrome orange,2015, Elise SC220 which I absolutely love, it's my sixth Elise and I hadn't considered changing it until I was out for a drive today and stopped at a dealer who has a 2015 "Exige S roadster premium" 345bhp for sale, it's finished in red which wouldn't have been my first choice but overall looks like a great car.

I've arranged to go back for a test drive early next week and the "price to change" is around £14,000. Does anyone have experience of Elise v Exige - I'm intrigued at the apparent difference between them, 220bhp against 345bhp, albeit in a slightly heavier car. I've never driven an Exige as I've always been such as Elise fan !

Is the 345bhp the car to go for or if I change should it be for the 380bhp Exige ? and also is it worth spending £14,000 for the difference ?

Any experiences and comments on the above welcomed.

Thank you

[DaveGB]

On my 2nd Exige V6 and love them. Think once you've become used to a V6 it would be hard to drop back on power, but that's not to say they are for everyone. Test drive one and see what you think.

Price of 380's are £65k second hand, so large jump up in money.

[DaveGB]

On my 2nd Exige V6 and love them. Think once you've become used to a V6 it would be hard to drop back on power, but that's not to say they are for everyone. Test drive one and see what you think.

Price of 380's are £65k second hand, so large jump up in money.

[CTE]

I`ve not driven a 220 cup, but have/do own an S1 and S2 Elise...the S2 being 240hp supercharged.

They are slightly different in that the S1 especially is all about balance...they all are to some extent. I`d describe the V6 as an Elise on steroids! But it is a slightly different experience. Definitely test drive one...as for which version, then the improvements are there but small.

[Leggy]

I switched from SC to V6.
From a performance perspective it really is on different level. It's much quicker, super car speeds. Feels more planted which is down to longer wheel base and extra weight.
More relaxing on longer journeys as it has much more torque.
Steering much heavier, hard work in tight spaces, and not so nimble. So it also depends if you like blasting down the country lanes or want to stretch out for longer faster sweeping roads.
Try one and see.

Edit - just looked at your car collection present and past! So you'll be used to the speed, I'd say keep the Elise.

Edited by Leggy on Monday 26th June 20:36

[sng45]

Thanks very much for the replies - I'm hoping to have a test drive tomorrow or Wednesday. I must admit I'm struggling a little with £14,000 to change when I like the Elise so much but intrigued to try an Exige as I've never driven one before. I feel the Elise is such a capable and "nimble" car for the minor - Sunday afternoon - roads that I'd be loathe to change it. I can understand the Exige being better for out and out speed and travelling on motorways, having said that I've been down to the South of France and back over the Alps a couple of times in my previous Elises and really enjoyed the trips.

As mentioned I have and have had, a few fast-ish cars and as I get older I feel it becomes more about "it's now how fast you go, but how you go fast" and as the Elise is so small 50mph feels like 85 and you get to keep your licence !

I think I've pretty much answered my own question !!!

[simpo555]

Not quite understand certain why but the Roadster is less desirable from a marketing and thereby resale point of view. Personaaly, keep the Elise. There are always bigger and more powerful cars. The V6 is dynamically better being bigger. Doesnt make it more fun and costs rise.

[sng45]

Since I started this thread unfortunately I haven't been in the best of health - I've had some fairly serious hospital treatment which is now over ( unfortunately so is the summer for this type of car - but I don't care after what I've been through!) so got back to looking again and noticed this...

http://www.alexandersprestige.co.uk/stock/7897409-...

( coincidentally the same dealer I bought my Elise from )

Does anyone know this car ? I've still not driven one but hoping to at least satisfy my curiosity this week !

[DaveGB]

Personally I would spend a few grand more and get the 2015 red Coupe from silverstone, with less miles, years warranty, higher spec, plus it has the conversion for soft top so you can enjoy the summer.

[piper]

This is an interesting question, I have always loved cars from a very early age. Two years ago, I changed my third Elise, a 220 SC which I had owned for 4 years and like you I absolutely loved it. When the Exige V6 first came out I drove one and was blown away by the performance difference which is so effortless. The only thing was that after owning an Exige S2 I wanted to be able to take the roof of without it looking odd, my car is a hobby weekend toy and I like the open top experience even when it’s cold.

When the Roadster was launched, I instantly fell in love with its beautiful looks and bigger stance than the Elise, aesthetically I love the pure elegance of the wingless shape which to my eyes also makes the car look longer, I am a bit of a traditionalist so I like the for example the pre-impact bumper 911’ s with no whale tails etc. Nowadays I only want to use the car for road use and I like the slightly more road orientated suspension set up, winged downforce styling is irrelevant for me on the road.

So, I did make the jump and spend my savings, the car does feel more planted and rides better than the Elise SC but at first I wasn’t sure I preferred it; on country road blasts, I had to relearn the chuck-ability of the car as it feels heavier at the back which of course it is, using both the steering and throttle. Now 2 years in I wouldn’t want to go back, 6 cylinders always will sound better than 4 and heel and toe down changes have never sounded so good.
Yes, there are even faster cars, I have driven a McLaren MP4 12C but again I like the tactile involvement of a manual gearbox and I am not in that league financially, but for me the Lotus Exige V6 is plenty fast enough for the road and I cannot ever see me changing the car (until I can’t get in it anymore) as it feels very much a mini supercar whilst combining all those wonderful attributes than only a Lotus can provide. I find the sense of occasion in starting and taking the Exige out feels even greater than the Elise.

Go and have a good drive in one and see what you think after stepping back into the Elise SC, I hope you are well over your health issues, to be honest just before I made the decision I lost a very good friend of mine and that helped me make my mind up in spending the extra money.

Edited by piper on Monday 6th November 10:56

[B4rnst4ble]

Sorry
Just seen this yes it was my car and what a car !
Just upgraded to something else
it was going to be a keeper ! Only put the lotus exhaust on in Feb this year any details on history let me know

Edited by B4rnst4ble on Saturday 11th November 07:48

[Leggy]

Sorry to read of your health issues. Hopefully you’ve made a full recovery. The previous owner of my V6 had recovered from a serious health problem but due to the heavy steering was told by his medical advisors to get something power assisted.
It’s worth a long test drive in different types of traffic to see if it’s suitable.

[sng45]

Leggy said:

Sorry to read of your health issues. Hopefully you’ve made a full recovery. The previous owner of my V6 had recovered from a serious health problem but due to the heavy steering was told by his medical advisors to get something power assisted.
It’s worth a long test drive in different types of traffic to see if it’s suitable.

Thanks very much for your reply, my health issues were somewhat different from your friend - I went into hospital in January to have a tonsil removed and when I came round from the anaesthetic I was told I had cancer of the mouth and throat - a big surprise to say the least as I've never smoked a cigarette and never drank alcohol, so hardly a rock'n'roll lifestyle ! So I've had a year of Radio & Chemotherapy, allergic reactions, pneumonia and a few other things thrown in ! but I've just been given the "all clear" and told I'm in remission, so life is good.

I've had a lot of cars and should I change the Elise for the Exige it would be one of nine I have presently and I'm a little unsure whether the £13k I've been told is the cost to change is worth it for a car I'll drive for around three hours a month! ( I could keep the Elise and have my 1971 Fiat 500 restored to Abarth spec' with the cash - first world problems etc !)

I drove the Exige last week for five miles or so and really enjoyed it, certainly impressive from an additional power and comfort point of view - but perhaps I just like my Elise too much ( this is my sixth ) so mulling it over and trying to decide if the Exige is something I really can't live without - maybe I've answered my own question !

Appreciate all the replies, thanks very much.

[sng45]

B4rnst4ble said:

Sorry
Just seen this yes it was my car and what a car !
Just upgraded to something else
it was going to be a keeper ! Only put the lotus exhaust on in Feb this year any details on history let me know

Edited by B4rnst4ble on Saturday 11th November 07:48

Thanks very much for your reply, I've sent you a pm.

Best Wishes

Steve